A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
